US3830048A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rotary cutter unit for grape harvesters
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-08-31
•
Granted: 1974-08-20
•
Expires: 1993-08-31
Abstract
Abstract A rotary cutter unit, for a self-propelled grape harvester of vine row-straddling type, operative upon advance of the harvester to sever the grape bunches from the canes of the grape vines in a row thereof; the cutter unit comprising a plurality of driven, conical, forwardly facing, vine-combing reels of open construction, and each such reel including a plurality of separate, axially spaced, forwardly tapering, helical sweep rods each having cutters on the inner side thereof whereby, as the reels comb through the vines and the canes are engaged by the helical sweep rods, the grape bunches drape over such rods and are severed by the cutters thereon.
Inventors
- 👤 J Ervin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 07:34
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D46/00; A01D46/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A rotary cutter unit, for a mobile grape harvester of vine row-straddling type, comprising a main frame supported for movement along a vine row, a pair of driven vine-combing reels, the reels being of open helical form, conical, and facing forwardly, means mounting the reels on the main frame in position to work on opposite sides of the row in engagement with canes of the vines in said row, and cutters on the reels adapted to sever grape bunches from canes engaged by the reels as the latter rotate and comb with auger-like action through the vines upon advance of the harvester; the reels being driven to individually turn laterally outwardly at the top.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
A rotary cutter unit, for a mobile grape harvester of vine row-straddling type, comprising a main frame supported for movement along a vine row, a pair of driven vine-combing reels, the reels being of open helical form, conical, and facing forwardly, means mounting the reels on the main frame in position to work on opposite sides of the row in engagement with canes of the vines in said row, and cutters on the reels adapted to sever grape bunches from canes engaged by the reels as the latter rotate and comb with auger-like action through the vines upon advance of the harvester; the reels being driven to individually turn laterally outwardly at the top.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
137 words
A rotary cutter unit, as in claim 1, including another pair of driven vine-combing reels, said other pair of reels being disposed rearward of said first-named pair of reels in corresponding relation, said other reels being of open helical form, conical, and facing forwardly, means mounting said other pair of reels on the main frame to work on opposite sides of the row in engagement with canes of the vines in said row subsequent to combing of the vines by said first-named pair of reels, and cutters on said other pair of reels adapted to sever remaining grape bunches from the canes engaged by said last-named reels as the latter rotate and comb with auger-like action through the vines rearwardly of said first-named reels; said other reels being driven to individually turn laterally outwardly at the top.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
107 words
A rotary cutter unit, for a mobile grape harvester of vine row-straddling type, comprising a main frame supported for movement along a vine row, a pair of driven vine-combing reels, means mounting the reels on the main frame in position to work on opposite sides of the row in engagement with canes of the vines in said row, and cutters on the reels adapted to sever grape bunches from canes engaged by the reels as the latter rotate and comb through the vines upon advance of the harvester; the reels being axially elongated, conical, facing forwardly, and include helical convolutions, the cutters being secured to such convolutions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
107 words
A rotary cutter unit, for a mobile grape harvester of vine row-straddling type, comprising a main frame supported for movement along a vine row, a pair of driven vine-combing reels, means mounting the reels on the main frame in position to work on opposite sides of the row in engagement with canes of the vines in said row, and cutters on the reels adapted to sever grape bunches from canes engaged by the reels as the latter rotate and comb through the vines upon advance of the harvester; the reels being axially elongated, conical, facing forwardly, and include helical convolutions, the cutters being secured to such convolutions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
117 words
A rotary cutter unit, for a mobile grape harvester of vine row-straddling type, comprising a main frame supported for movement along a vine row, a pair of driven vine-combing reels, means mounting the reels on the main frame in position to work on opposite sides of the row in engagement with canes of the vines in said row, and cutters on the reels adapted to sever grape bunches from canes engaged by the reels as the latter rotate and comb through the vines upon advance of the harvester; the reels being axially elongated, conical, and facing forwardly; each reel including a plurality of axially spaced, helical sweep rods, and the cutters being secured to such sweep rods.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
117 words
A rotary cutter unit, for a mobile grape harvester of vine row-straddling type, comprising a main frame supported for movement along a vine row, a pair of driven vine-combing reels, means mounting the reels on the main frame in position to work on opposite sides of the row in engagement with canes of the vines in said row, and cutters on the reels adapted to sever grape bunches from canes engaged by the reels as the latter rotate and comb through the vines upon advance of the harvester; the reels being axially elongated, conical, and facing forwardly; each reel including a plurality of axially spaced, helical sweep rods, and the cutters being secured to such sweep rods.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A rotary cutter unit, as in claim 4, in which each reel includes a central shaft; the helical sweep rods being individually separate, and means securing such separate sweep rods on the central shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A rotary cutter unit, as in claim 5, in which each helical sweep rod tapers forwardly.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A rotary cutter unit, as in claim 4, in which the helical sweep rods of each reel, in rearward progression from the foremost sweep rod, increase in maximum working diameter so as to impart to such reel its conical form.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-19 | 1978-02-18 | 1978-08-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-19 | 1982-02-18 | 1982-08-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-19 | 1986-02-18 | 1986-08-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |